NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥楾is the season to put on some brand-new holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to new and old. But don鈥檛 know what to press play on? We’ve got you covered.
In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, here are some of the best new holiday releases for the 2025 season. So, grab a loved one, a cup of eggnog and get to listening.
鈥淐hristmas in The City,鈥� Pentatonix
For the a cappella fan, there is no better news than yet another holiday album Across 18 tracks, 鈥淐hristmas in the City鈥� celebrates the magic of cosmopolitan life around the holidays and showcases the group’s vocal athletics. Hear them reimagine the songs you know and love as well as introduce a few originals. Start with 鈥淪nowing in Paris,鈥� which features and end with 鈥淚鈥檝e Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,鈥� a never-before-heard recording of the classic featuring Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.
鈥淎 Charlie Brown Christmas,鈥� Vince Guaraldi
It’s hard to believe, but 60 years ago, the 鈥淧eanuts鈥� gang’s classic aired on television for the first time and become an almost-instant sensation. Part of its charms, of course, must be credited to its whimsical score by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. To celebrate such a huge anniversary, Craft Recordings is reissuing its soundtrack 鈥� as good a reason as any to revisit these beloved songs.
鈥淕reatest Hits Christmas,鈥� LeAnn Rimes
Just ahead of her Christmas tour, the released 鈥淕reatest Hits Christmas.鈥� It’s exactly what it sounds like: a mesh of classics and some of her best-known songs from her past holiday albums. There are also new collaborations, like Aloe Blacc on 鈥淭hat Spirit of Christmas鈥� and Gavin DeGraw on 鈥淐elebrate Me Home.鈥�
鈥淪now Globe Town,鈥� Brad Paisley
Some things just make sense together: peanut butter and jelly, coffee and doughnuts, and his touring band sitting down in Nashville to record a charming Christmas album. 鈥淪now Globe Town鈥� boasts of eight originals and eight covers 鈥� exactly what the heart wants this holiday season. It’s the former collection that will really connect, though; there are real charms to be found in 鈥淟it,鈥� 鈥淭hat Crazy Elf鈥� and the title track.
鈥淐hristmastime,鈥� Trisha Yearwood
Country singer voice sounds like coming home; it makes her the ideal talent for a new holiday collection. 鈥淐hristmastime鈥� is stacked with familiar tunes and perhaps, best of all, features 鈥淢erry Christmas, Valentine,鈥� a duet with her husband Blast that one at your get-together and there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
鈥淗olidays,鈥� Roberta Flack
The world lost a giant in February when the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, died at 88. Perhaps best known for her timeless take on the Christmas season brings up another reason to celebrate her. A new release, 鈥淗olidays,鈥� like many on this list, features originals and covers 鈥� and a selection of songs from Flack鈥檚 classic 鈥淭he Christmas Album.鈥� It holds a special meaning this year.
鈥淔eels Like Christmas,鈥� Mickey Guyton
The country powerhouse feels like Christmas and once you dive into these eight tracks, you will, too. From her rendition of 鈥淥 Holy Night鈥� to her masterful take on 鈥淒o You Want to Build a Snowman?鈥� from Disney’s 鈥淔rozen鈥� (sorry, parents!) there’s a lot to love here.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Christmas,鈥� Eric Ben茅t
R&B singer Eric Ben茅t’s first holiday album, 鈥淚t’s Christmas,鈥� is filled with warmth; consider it the sonic equivalent of curling up to a roaring fireplace on a snowy winter’s evening. Don’t believe us? Well, one listen to his take on 鈥淧lease Come Home for Christmas鈥� or 鈥淥h Holy Night鈥� will make you a believer. Or better yet, there’s 鈥淐hristmas Morning,鈥� featuring Ben茅t鈥檚 youngest daughters Lucia and Luna. Tissues, you might want to grab a few.
鈥淭he Chess Records Christmas Album,鈥� various artists
Sometimes a compilation album is what a holiday party needs. Chess Records has the answer. 鈥淭he Chess Records Christmas Album鈥� is an impressive collection of veteran talent. The release features everything from 鈥淩un Rudolph Run鈥� and The Moonglows’ 鈥淗ey Santa Claus鈥� to Lenox Avenue’s 鈥淟ittle Drummer Boy鈥� and The Salem Travelers’ 鈥淢erry Christmas to You.鈥�
鈥淓vergreen Christmas Sessions,鈥� Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes is a newer name on the country scene than a few of the artists listed here, but that simply means he’s a fresh voice to discover. His 鈥淓vergreen Christmas Sessions鈥� is a brief introduction 鈥� just four covers of holiday standards 鈥� but it’s a charming romp. Start with 鈥淲inter Wonderland鈥� and 鈥淗ave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,鈥� stay for 鈥淩un Run Rudolph鈥� and 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥�
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